High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The Friday Night Ramblings Of A Mad Man On Jesus Luzardo's Debut Day

Episode Date: March 1, 2025

Jack Fritz reacts to Jesus Luzardo's dominant performance in his Phillies spring training debut. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I've got this condition where I don't feel pain. You're a superhero. No, I'm not. This is how intense Nova Kane sounds. Oh, wow. Imagine how it looks. Say it more? Yeah, big time.

Nova Kane, forming theaters March 14th. This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes. On the Odyssey app and sports radio 94 WIP. The crowd was singing High Hopes. Smiling through a broken nose. Oh, High Hopes, High Hopes. I feel a little less alone.

I mean, how about a little bit Friday night edition of the ramblings of a madman solo high hopes podcast? Welcome on in Jack Fritz hanging out with you now. It's a listen. It's a Friday night You probably listened to this on Saturday morning, but this podcast is being recorded Friday night I've been wanting to do more of these because obviously If you listen to the podcast, you know how much I love spring-turning baseball watch every game twice now during the day You know, I do have to do my day job So believe it or not, I have to be a little bit locked in on the radio show But I still have the Phil's on the side can't fully lock in when I get home

Maybe to rewatch a little bit tonight yeah I got Walker down a little bit earlier so he went down he was he was you know he was like dad I know you didn't want to do more of these solo podcasts because you have a lot of thoughts in the Phil so I'll just go to sleep so that appreciate the kid always appreciate the kid, but I like if you want to talk about peak 30 year old young father of two it was sitting sitting on my couch with the Yankees Phillies game from the other day on my computer and

Yankees writer Yankees Phillies on my on my TV Did I feel like a little bit of a loser Did I feel like a little bit of a loser? I felt like a little bit of a loser, but. The the the motto of this podcast is I watch the Spring Journey games so you don't have to. And there's a lot to get into, a lot of exciting stuff. Some of the again, we can't call the the younger kids the daycare, but some of the prospects are just prospecting and

There's some intriguing stuff happening with the big league guys. So let's get into it. I think the big story of the day is Hazel's Luzardo made his debut today and I think there's a lot of people when they got Hazel's Luzardo was like, yeah I mean, what's the big deal? Why are why are Jack and James so excited and you know our listeners we know that you guys are sickos like us I mean there's one podcast listening audience that understands the the level of arm that Hazel Salazar is I think it's our listeners so but but for the people that maybe didn't know

what kind of stuff Hazus Lizardo has, he flashed it all today. I mean, he was 97 to 98. He debuted maybe that new sweeper, and the change-up, I think, it really has a chance to be an equalizer. And when you see what this staff has been able to do, staff, I mean, Kauffman and his pitching development

uh, you know system what they've been able to do with a guy like Chris Sanchez and what they've been able to do with with his change up and getting him to the next level and it's why I've been so excited about the idea of adding Lazardo Hopefully he stays healthy because if he stays healthy, I think you're getting a real difference making type of arm but you're getting a guy who at what point was the best pitching prospect in baseball to a really high level coaching staff. I think Caleb Gotham is an absolute stud

and what he's been able to turn Chris Sanchez into, you're giving him Jesus Lizardo who has better stuff. That's no knock on Chris Sanchez. I think Chris Sanchez, as of right now, like if the season was starting today, I think is their second best starter. I just do. But Hey, this is Art.

Oh, I believe also has top of the line stuff with more pitches. And and the fact that he was able to flash that change up today a couple of times and get real good tumbling action on it was able to sit 97 98 after the game And saying that his arm felt alive. It just Popped it just popped and I thought was I thought what was so encouraging about the start today

Is that on the same mound that? Garrett crochet who if you listen to the podcast in the offseason I think you're well aware of how much i want to get a crochet but in the same match up. Same two guys i thought hazel's was arto matched up. Stuff for stuff with garret crochet and garret crochet lead the american league and strikeouts for nine last year we know we can have to strikeoutsouts and I thought pure stuff wise I thought was art. Oh mash up to him So I think this is only the beginning. I think they're only scratching the surface you know, I think was art I was sort of like a ball of clay that he that they are giving to Totham and crew and Saying okay. It's on you. You guys figured out you've done done it with pitchers who don't have the pedigree

of Jesus Lazardo, but holy cow. I mean, it just jumped. He threw strikes. He wasn't all over the zone. He commanded well. He looked like a totally different guy. And you can only get plus 8,000 for so long. Sanchez plus 5,000, Lazardo's plus 8,000. You're only gonna get eight thousand for so long. Sanchez plus five thousand. Lizardo's plus eight thousand

You're only gonna get that price for so long. But from that standpoint Could not be more could not be more excited now, uh the day before him. Zach Wheeler went out was zach Wheeler, you know two innings You know four strikeouts. I I sat down to watch it and I was saying to myself I don't really need to do this. We know what Wills is about to do. He's gonna fill the strike zone, he's gonna throw a ton of pitches, he's gonna be Zach Wheeler.

So, so far with the starting staff, so good. I mean, with Lazardo, what he's done, what Sanchez did, Wheeler did, like, ah, it's exciting stuff. So from the big league level, yeah, I think what Lazardo did tonight, today, was something to be giddy about. Just flat out dominant, and I just, I can't wait.

I think he's gonna pitch opening weekend. I think he's gonna be their number two starter to start the year. So I think it's gonna go Wheeler, Lazardo, then Nola and then Sanchez and Ranger to close it out and they want to break the the righty lefties up and and kind of go from there but I think Lazardo is gonna be the game to starter to start the year so Lazardo pops. Other thing from a big league level because believe it or not not, I do believe that the majority of people listening to this, I think care probably more about the big league

level than a lot of the minor league guys that I have thoughts on. But the quality of a bat, I think early in camp, and I know that it's something that we are all hyper focused on and I'm also well aware that this is something that's been emphasized and maybe when they get into the season and they get into the minutia of the season, they get into the dog days of the summer, their approach is going to slip but at least so far I do think they're doing a better job of the plate of working quality at bats and I think the two guys that have had the best at bats and look the most comfortable and look ready to kind of have a year has been Brandon Marsh and Bryson Scott. I've been really impressed with Marsh. He's been playing a lot. You know, I think they want to get him a lot of reps in centerfield

but Marsh from the standpoint of Hanging in there against tough lefties and he doubled against Rodin now There's been a lot of of jokes going around twitter about Jason Dominguez playing left field. He's pretty atrocious. I mean, I don't think he can track a fly ball. So that might've helped it, but the ball was touched and it's off Rodin, which now Johan Rojas took him deep to the opposite field. So maybe we shouldn't be buying

Cartlis Rodin's stock right now. But the fact that he's able to do that and almost more impressively was later in the game against the Yankees yesterday Marsha worked at worked an eight pitch walk against against Tim Hill. Tim Hill is a nasty little lefty. So I just I think Marsh so far if you're looking for a guy that's buying into what they're they're trying to sell of Seymour pitches See the ball late, think opposite way. If Marsh can be, think opposite way against lefties, pull the ball with power against

righties kind of guy and kind of put it together from that standpoint. I've always felt like Marsh has had a pretty good eye. I've always thought that he's someone that should be a 350 OVP guy at a minimum. So I think you're starting to see his development taking a step forward. I think I think Marsh set a really, really solid camp and then Stadi, you know, his hands, it looked like they've changed the position on his swing a little bit, got a little bit higher and he, a ball today almost got out that the right fielder made a made a good play for um on the red sox but I think from the standpoint of Getting back to being the Bryson stock that we saw two years ago now

He had the injuries last year obviously that that hurt him. We know that the elbow injury But just the quality of the bat like like being okay Getting into two strikes and just fouling off a ton of pitches. I thought it was really notable If you if you listen to the broadcast today Okay, getting into two strikes and just fouling off a ton of pitches. I thought it was really notable. If you listen to the broadcast today, Jesus Luzardo, the first two people he said that he was excited to not have to face anymore on the Phillies was Bryson Stott and Amundou Sosa. Now I'm sure he's thrilled to not face the Schwab or Turner, Harper, the guys, right?

But the fact that the first name out of his mouth is Bryce Stott, I thought was notable because he can be like a dog in the box because he does have the bat to ball skills. He can foul a ton of pitches. And what happened last year was it was like he was swinging a pool noodle. It was just, there was just nothing there. There was no pop.

And when, and I think as the season went on, he kept trying to cheat and get the pitches early and try to Try to launch baseball because the only way he could drive it was by getting it right timing wise He wasn't able to trust his hands because elbow is compromised. I think what you're seeing so far With size that he's able to just trust his trust his hands and do what he's done for a majority of his career. So I Man, I know it's spring training. I know they're not always facing big leaguers. They are facing some big leaguers.

But in the start aspect, in the marsh aspect, even Rojas has worked some good at bats. And like I mentioned, he took Rodin deep. So, I really don't even waste my time watching they got when the games live I watch it but the kind of rewatch I'm not super worried about Schwerber not super worried about Harper I'll watch Trey at bats because I'm I'm interested to see what he's doing from the leadoff spot do we see him taking more pitches he did work an eight pitch at bat the other day he worked a

couple eight counts today even though. He worked a couple of eight counts today, even though he struck out a couple of times, which whatever. I think we kind of have a good idea of what Castellanos is, but like for this lineup to kind of fill out the starts of the world, the marshes of the world, they need to take that step forward to really fill it out. JT had a couple of hard hit balls today.

And Kepler, it took me a while. It took me a while, but it finally popped today. His swing reminds me a lot of Raul Ibanez. A lot of Raul Ibanez. Maybe we get a 09 Ibanez first half from Max Kepler, if we get that. We might be in pretty good shape. We'll see, but at least swing comp wise. Yeah, there's a there's a little bit of Raul Abanias to

To Max Kepler, but on the Major League level Those are the kind of things that are sticking out early and the last couple games that I've watched those guys also Mean before we get into the the other big news today, besides Jesus Lizardo, absolutely carving up the Red Sox. Now it was the Red Sox, like B team. It was it was the three top prospects, Roman Anthony, Christian Campbell and Marcelo Meyer of those three. If you're in like a dynasty, like I know Roman Anthony's

like the number one prospect. The old eyes tell me that I think Campbell's the best of those three, but whatever. It's the six year anniversary of the Bryce Signing. The High Hopes pod immediately after the Bryce Signing was maybe the most euphoric we've ever been. It was a big moment. We recorded an entire podcast before that,

about an hour long, basically just forfeiting the idea of adding Bryce Harper to the Phillies. We were done with it. The fact that it took until February 28th for Bryce to be a Phillie, I can't believe we survived. I really can't. It's, that's such a long time. It was it was insane.

So what a trade for the world. It was an amazing time. But holy cow, Bryce Harper, Philly six years ago today. I think we're already I mean, in the midway point of the season, we're gonna be halfway through the contract. I can't believe how fast things fly. But still, it was six years ago today at the Bryce Harper Philadelphia Philly

But in Bryce Harper news as of today February 28th 2025 is that he was batting second now maybe circumstances Maybe it was they didn't have all their stars in the lineup, you know sure wasn't in there today, but at least he was just batting second. And I hope that that is something that sticks and we don't have to play the game of this Bryce is not one to bat second, even though I believe, and I think a lot of people believe, it's better overall for the team if, if Bryce is hitting second. So good stuff there. It's better overall for the team if if Bryce is hitting second, so

Good stuff there. Let's stick with it. And maybe the next time Schwab is in there Batting fourth if you want to get crazy One and bat him third knock yourself out But the most important thing is Bryce is batting too and and you're gonna see a lot of pitches all throughout anyway So it's just the first inning. Let's just let's just do that Bryce is batting too. And you're gonna see a lot of pitches all throughout anyway. So it's just the first inning. Let's just do that. So that is in Bryce News. All right, couple prospect things.

As you roll along here on the ramblings of a madman, solo edition of the Iowa Spot Guest on this Friday night at about 10.30. Rincones Jr. hit another ball today super hard off the right field wall and almost equally as impressive in his second at bat he got fooled and just kind of uh you know flipped his hands at the baseball and almost hit it to the warning track in left field. Guys got serious pop and they said on the broadcast that he's added like 20, 25 pounds since he was drafted.

He's just got a big league look to him. And I know there's a lot of people saying, can he make the team, can he make the team, can he make the team, what's the deal here? We're all being introduced to the they were Gunnys jr. you know the hype train again like I said the other day I believe on the podcast with seltzer I think he is someone who I don't I don't think he's gonna make the team on opening day it doesn't really make much sense he needs to get a bats in in triple-a and I don't need him as a bench bat and I hope he can

develop into an everyday starter and I think he can but he almost like needs a break to be able to come up and prove that he can and it's not like you want to root for injury because obviously not you want the best for the team but it's almost like he needs an extended period of time at the big league level to prove to them that, Hey, I can do this, you know, to where that even after next year, you don't have to go find another Max Kepler. If Max Kepler really goes off, you know, the resigned Max Kepler, Rincones can kind of take that spot and run with it or, you know,

is he in a spot where two years from now, you know, Cassiano walks and he can kind of plug him in there and you're good to go I think that's the thing that we're watching for right now from racconas rather than Do you want him to be a bench bat? No, you need him to get at bats and in triple a so he hit another ball hard today um I thought early in the in the at bat you could see some maybe issues against against spin and and change up. So I think that's something he's probably developed. Seems like he can 100% crush a fastball. We saw that the other day when he went opposite field

against the Blue Jays. Again, continue to be in trade, continue to be excited. They don't really have great outfield depth in the system right now. So at least corner outfield depth, they have like a million centerfielders. Now, again, I think one of the most impressive parts system right now. So at least corner outfield depth, they have like a million centerfielders. Now, again, I think I think the one of the most impressive parts of, of spring training

so far, is I really do think the younger players are working good quality at bats. Like everyone that seems like they come up is, is not getting overmatched even though they're some of the some of the times they're facing big league comp. I think Crawford's worked really good at bats. I think Aiden works a really, really, really high quality at bat. Rincones, same thing. You know, Otto Kemp. Dude, the two Karsans, I know Carson in this city

gets kind of a tough rep because of ol' Wensey, but I don't know what their future is. It's interesting. They have a couple of really, I think quality big league utility guys. I don't think either of these three are really everyday starters. Maybe, if they are, awesome.

But after Rincones, like some of the utility guys, like the Carson Taylors, Carson Demartini's and Otto Kemp's Like I think all those guys are interesting. I don't know what they're gonna be I don't know really even what their position is, you know, Taylor's plays third base. He was playing first base today I think he's probably more of a first baseman Demartini is more of a third baseman second baseman type guy. I think he could be a plug-in play not not like a I think he could be a quality starter at the big league level like I

Just the first name off top my head was like Mark Bellhorn But I think I think better than Mark Bellhorn I guess I'd hope better than Mark Bellhorn But that was the first kind of name that came to my head. But that home run today was impressive. And he was a guy that, if you remember from the podcast with Barber, he was someone that battled injuries at Virginia Tech,

but always had a lot of pop at the ACC level. And I think he saw that with, I mean, just a fluid hip movement from Carson D. Martini today. So, you know, Carson Taylor has a couple of home runs. I think he works really good at bat and then AutoCamp. Many people are saying it's been AutoCamp breakout season. So, you know, some of the prospect guys from that standpoint, you know, Taylor,

Kemp, DiMartini don't know what their future is, you know, Kemp's the closest probably, even though I think Taylor's probably right behind him, then DiMartini a little bit older, you know, because of obviously going to college for a couple years. But you know, those three have kind of flashed from that standpoint. So definitely something to watch there. And oh, I managed to bring this up earlier from the the big league level as I you know bury some leads here Alvarado Romano and Kirk ring pitch yesterday Alvarado

Looks clean with throwing strikes. It wasn't as typical, you know close to 100, but if if he can be 95 and still get sink and Be more in the strike zone. I think that's fine I think he's gonna get a lot of big leagues at big league outs My the bullpen is starting to become definitely more of a concern as we get closer to the season not not like They're gonna be a disaster. They just look in arm short and I think her man's gonna be good You know, he pitched yesterday and he's so funny because he just seems so

Army, you know, it's just like the mechanics Almost fall apart from a standpoint of like it just looks he's trying to throw as hard as he can so, you know Romano is is's effort a majority of the time. And listen, he was, I believe, 94 to 96. And Slider looked like a real weapon. And he looked, that was like, the guy that pitched yesterday looked like the Jordan Romano that I'd seen in a blue jays uniform for a long time.

So that was really positive. The guy that really popped for me was kirkering who? it just continues to look easier and easier as he's getting more and more adjusted to the big league level and and Him just getting more comfortable with that fastball is gonna be massive so You know, I think all three looks really good Romano I thought looked better than I expected and Kirkering just continues to look easy So those three big but even if those three are good and Alvarado I still view as more of a wild card I don't really care that strong a lot of home run, you know I think strong is gonna be good. I think he's gonna be an all-star again as a middle reliever

I'd probably bet not but I don't think he's gonna fall off the face of the earth but it's really those four and then then you start getting into the Jose Ruiz and Tanner Banks's of the world. Now maybe a guy like Macmillan pops and can develop into something. But even if he does, I mean, with Hoffman, they started him off from like the fifth inning. And then eventually he kind of worked his way

into higher lever spots, but it was still even as high lever spots for like in the, winning and then eventually he kind of worked his way into to higher leverage spots, but it was still even as high leverage spots for like in the, you know, I mean, I know the Braves game in the, in the NLTS and game one was a little, it's a little drastic, but it seemed like it took them a while to kind of trust Jeff Hoffman. So it like those four are going to have to kind of pitch really well really well and I just kinda have this feeling that we're gonna have to tread water until the trade deadline. Now maybe at the trade deadline they view the market as too rich and maybe then with

painter probably up and again I don't think they're gonna put them in the bullpen but with painter up is that time where you have the ranger to the bullpen consideration? I don't know again this is all just thoughts on February 28th, but in in just looking at the bullpen on paper and and Feeling how I do about like Jose Ruiz and Tanner Banks. They keep propping up Tanner Banks. I Just don't see it and Jose Ruiz I like but I like him in the fifth. I like him in the six I think they need I think they need another high leverage righty and the Ranger to the bullpen thing doesn't really help that maybe the high leverage righty is is is John McMillan and and

I spared everyone until 23 minutes into this podcast, but There's just something there now. He faced the ninth inning of the Yankees lineup. That's not exactly murders row but he just there's just something there and He's kind of just a piece of clay kind of like hazel's lazardo a piece of clay kind of like Hazel's Lizardo that it's it's something that if I was the Phillies I would hand it to To Caleb Cotham and say let's see what we got here of of the guys who have pitched so far There's been some interesting one again like Pidia has a real slider I was at QOS. Uh

I don't know if i'm ever gonna trust him in a in a big league game, but Some of the stuff plays You know and they have some some interesting Non roster invitee guys, but I just continue to believe that he's the most interesting I mean he can he can touch a hundred and has good feel for his first slider I think he needs that like I think if you're Gotham, he'll be able to add more spin Maybe they tell him like I just that he needs to add sharpness to his slider a little bit It gets a little flat for me and then I'm sure he could do some things with the fastball moon

But even the fastball, you know, it's on this stuff plus models that it really really grades out. Well, so It's it's a little bit projecting. It's a little bit, hey Caleb, what can you do here? But this was a guy again, a couple years ago that a lot of Royals fans felt like was gonna be a big piece of the bullpen for last year's Royals and some injuries. He just didn't have it. But maybe he's fully healthy now

and the Phillies might have gotten a steal here. He was really good in the ninth yesterday. And it struck out too, Slider was moving. He just continues to look like a guy that if you gave to Caleb Cotham, that he would be able to get something out of. So that's my mini feeling on John McMillan to kind of end out this podcast.

But overall, it's hard not to watch the games and not get excited about the possible outcome of this team. Rotations on fire, the lineup who hear the idea of we're going to have tougher conversations about the at bats seems like they're getting it. Seems like they're taking it to heart. They're thinking the whole field, at least for some of the young guys, look like they're getting back to the players that we saw a couple years ago. That's a good sign bullpen Doing their job so far and like none of them really getting lit up

I mean as strong as first at outing and they just they've got a lot of interesting arms that if you give to this coaching Staff, I think they can get the most out of so there's a lot to get into I know it's always a little bit rambly on these solo podcasts, but listen We love the Phil's and then and when they're back we got to talk about and so, you know There's some my some spring training baseball this weekend. Maybe I'll get one more of these out before the next high hopes I hope so but again priority number one is making sure the the kiddos are all asleep, so Thanks for hanging out with me. Hope you have a great weekend and we'll talk to you soon

Alright everybody. It's here. The March to spring training and opening day is officially upon us Hey, I'm Rob Bradford from baseballs and boring and we'll have you covered every single day with instant reactions to late breaking signings determining which players are yes truly in the best shape of their lives and behind the scenes stories from all the excitement and intrigue this spring trending brings Follow baseball isn't boring in the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast in the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast. What's up NBA fans, it's Danny Green here. For those who want an inside look at the league through the eyes of a 15 year veteran

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podcasts. Thanks for watching. We'll see you next time. Bye.